Event

A Green Step Forward – Creating a Strategic, Sustainable, knowledge-driven and technology-based agriculture industry in the Caribbean

As part of its sixtieth anniversary celebrations, The University of the West Indies organised an International Congress on Tropical Agriculture entitled “Overcoming Challenges to Developing Sustainable Agri-food systems in the Caribbean” in 2008. A workshop followed, aiming to find consensus on the way forward for Caribbean agriculture vis-à-vis rising food prices and concerns regarding food security. It included representatives from CARICOM institutions, technocrats representing the various Ministries of Agriculture from CARICOM countries, farmer organizations, research and development institutions, agri-business associations and other private sector groups. An attractive document has emerged from this workshop. Its title alone suggests the optimism engendered by the process: A Green Step Forward – Creating a Strategic, Sustainable, knowledge-driven and technology-based agriculture industry in the Caribbean.

The document is to be presented shortly to CARICOM as a white paper for consideration. Its contents are generated by the insights and recommendations of the stakeholders involved, and provide a blueprint for an innovative and radical approach to an agricultural development strategy.

To view this document, please visit https://sta.uwi.edu/newspics/2009/ForginganewparadigmforCaribbeanAgriculture.pdf.